Escaping the Alpha, Claimed in the End novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Amelia’s POV

The first morning without Ryder felt wrong, and every day after only dug the ache deeper,

I told myself I’d made the right choice, that leaving Ryder was the only way to keep him safe. But the truth sat in my chest. like a stone, heavy and unmovable. Every morning I woke expecting his scent in the air, his voire in my head, and every morning it was only silence.

If not for Dane, I wasn’t sure I’d have managed at all.

Dane wasn’t the type to smother with words. He just showed up when I needed it most, no questions asked. When sleep turned on me and the nightmares dragged me under, he’d be there-leaning on the doorframe with a mug in his hand, pretending it was just routine.

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“Couldn’t sleep either,” he’d say, even though the shadows under my eyes gave me away.

During the day, he filled the silence I carried. Sometimes with stories about the pack he’d been leading, sometimes with dumb little jokes that shouldn’t have made me laugh, but somehow did. His words didn’t heal the hole inside me, but they kept it from swallowing me whole.

Still, it was impossible not to notice what was missing. Dane gave me comfort, but not the kind that settled the ache Ryder left behind. And every time he caught me staring at nothing too long, I knew he saw that too.

One afternoon, he caught me sitting on the porch steps, staring at the woods like they might offer me answers. The sky was pale and gray, the kind that pressed low over your head and made it feel like the world was smaller than it should be.

“You’re not fine,” Dane said plainly, crouching next to me.

I huffed out a weak laugh. “And here I thought I was hiding it.

“You’re terrible at hiding things.” His smile softened. “Which is probably good. Makes it easier to help.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And how exactly do you plan on helping?”

“By introducing you to someone,” he said. “My sister.”

I blinked. “Your sister?”

He nodded, straightening. “You’ll see.”

He led me down a narrow path that cut deeper into the forest. The air smelled different here-earthier, sharper, threaded with something that raised the tiny hairs on my arms. We reached a cabin tucked between tall, ancient trees. Smoke drined from its chimney, carrying the scent of herbs and something stronger, something that didn’t belong to cooking

Before Dane could knock, the door swung open.

A woman stepped out. She was tall, striking, with long dark hair braided neatly down her back. Her eyes, a piercing anber swept over me like they could strip me bare.

“My sister,” Dane said, grinning like this was normal. “Sloane.”

My brows shot up. “Your sister’s a witch?”

His grin widened. “Surprise.”

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Chapter 32

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fodne didn’t retssal. She studied me, tilting her head slightly. “So this is Amelia,” was said her were calm by carry something I couldn’t place “The wolf who carries power she hasn’t Marned to hold

My breath caught. “How did you

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“We feel things,” she interrupted gently. “And word travels. You’re not weak. Amelia You’re just unfinished

Her words knocked the breath right out of me. My throat went right, and I had to look away admitted quietly. “Not fully.”

cerit been ab

Sloane’s lips curved faintly-not mocking, but knowing. “Then maybe we can help.”

“We?” I asked cautiously.

“The coven,” she said simply.

The word alone made my pulse quicken. I’d grown up hearing whispers of witches, warnings laced with distrust. They lived by their own rules, outside pack law, and most wolves didn’t understand them. Didn’t want to.

Dane must have seen the hesitation on my face, because he stepped closer. “She’s my sister,” he said softly. “If I trust her. you

can too.”

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